The Portland daily press., 1887-03-28
FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL.
STATE OF TRADE.

II
(From Bradstreet's of Saturday Mch 25)
Special kilograms TO Bradstreets report fair
Increase In the volume of merchandise during the
week, due In part to the pressure to move grain,
produce and other staples to the full extent of the
| demand prior 10 April 8, beyond which existing
railway freights do not extend. There has.been a
distinct increase in volume OF general trade at
Portland, Me-, Philadelphia, Pttsburg Cincinnati,
| Louisville, st. Louis Chicago and st. Paul, not
only as against the earlier portion of the month,
but in comparison with like period in 1886 as
| well Lake navigation promises to open with
higher rates on the suppositlon that high railway
4 rates will result from the interstate law. This
l has advanced the price OF as well as the demand
| for lake tonnage.
| The total bank clearings from thirty-Six cities
| for six days ended with yesterday aggregated
| SS5S o92, 499. against $500, 9o6, o97 last week.
and s952, 1923, 100 in the like week of 1886. This
shows a loss of S132, 814, 600, or 1871 per cent
during the week, and per cent against last year.
Domestic money markets generally are active,
and rates tend upward, largely dependent on the
demand for April settlements.
Collections are better than last week. The out
look for the California wheat crop this year is not
for BONANZA crops" exports are at low ebb
there; sowing is behndhand and the rainfall is
against a full crop.
The reports OF the years hog packing at the
West, showing an excess of about $50 900 hogs
over last year, and an aggregate decrease of
stocks Of provisions March / equal to about 81.
100000 pounds of products, have added strength
to the provision market. The Chicago clioues
supposed to be controlling mess pork and wheat
are still believed to be buyers on every break in
that market.
Iron continues dull so far as new orders are
concerned, but deliveries on old orders are heavy,
and consumption continues active. Advance re-
ports to Bradstreet's show that the total imports
OF iron and steel for two months of 1887 aggre-
gate 465, 900 tons against 269 900 in two months
1885, gainn of n per cent. lin value So 7s7, 900
in 1887 against s4,631 900 in 1886, gain of AZ
per cent Leading members Of the trade here
look for decline in this excessive importation
prior TO June, with a subsequent revival in price,
Raw cotton is 11ss higher than last year and
i4c higher than last week, on heavy consumption
and signs Of exhaustion Of the crop. New York
and New Orleans only have considerable stocks
OF desirable cotton. The movement of cotton
goods is active, particularly at Chicago and Bos
ton. Prices are tending upward for brown and
bleached cottons. Woolens continue slow. Raw
wool Is steady, with the downward movement
checked. Prices are 2 to &c lower than on Janu-
ury l. Supplies are ample till the new clip.
nSugar Is hrmer and higher on lighter supplies In
primary markets and reduced crop estimates in
Cuba and Europe.
Coffee is more active and options 1sc higher.
Rio more excited on renewed inquiry
There were 281 failures In the United States
and % in Canada, reported to Bradstreet's this
week, against 200 and 81 respectively last week,
1e1 and 80 for the same week of 1886 and PAT
81 for the corresponding week of 1885. The to-
tai thus far this year number 2.917 in the United
States and 325 in Canada, against against 3139
and 342 respectively for the same period of 1885.